Mining machine



Dec. 26, 1933. M, HOLMES 1,940,799

MINING MACHINE Filed March 28, 1930 I no era $0 1. flow/ 65R H0 Zmqs. W

A; A'Mm Patented Dec. 26, 193 3 :Massachusetts Application .Marchae.i930. Serial No. 439,186 7 Q12 calms. .(o1 262-30) This invention relates to mining machines and more particularly" to improvements in feeding.

mechanisms of such machines. 7

- An object of this invention is to provide anim proved mining machine "feeding mechanism. Another object is to provide an improved flexible feeding mechanism for a coal mining machine, wherein a feed operating member, cooperating with a flexible feeding element is ,utilized for feeding the machine and has associated therewith improved mechanismfor controlling said feed operating member. Another object is'to provide in a flexiblefeeding'mechanism of the aforesaid character an improved clutchand brakemecha nism for controlling the feedoperating member whereby the .latter may be entirely disconnected from its drive and frictionally held against rotation as desired. Yet another object is toprovide an improved clutch and controlling brake respectively operative to entirely disconnect the" feed operating member from its drive and frictio'nally resist rotation of said feed-operating member.

These and other objects. and'advantages of this inventionwill, however, hereinafter more fully appear. 9

for purposes of illustration one form which the invention may assume in practice.

' In the drawing,- j I Fig. v1 is a plan view shown partially in horizontal section of the illustrative embodiment of the 'improvedfeeding mechanism; t

Fig. 2 is a side elevationa-l'view of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig.1, parts being show in section to illustrate structural details.

' Fig.3 is a detail sectional'view illustrating j the .c u' chi e n dragof the frictiondiscs to'cause the transverse shafts'connected to the drums to tend to rotate by power and preventing completely free rotation improved clutch mechanism; the shown in its connectedposition.

Fig". 4 is a view s milar, to Fig. 3 showing" the clutch in itsreleased position, In this illustrative construction there is shown a flexible feeding mechanism ofthe same general character as that disclosed in my copending ape plication, Ser. No. 367,894, filed June 3; 1929 and having incorporated thereinthe improved feed operating member controlling and braking means. As described in the aforesaid application, the feedingl -mechanism genermly comprises a feed frame'l having journaled thereon independently rotatable feed'operating andcontrollin'g members 2 and 3; herein in theiorrn'of' cable winding or haulage drums. Mechanism driven by a motor 4 is provided for 'efie'cting drive of the feed drums in'winding direction either. separately or simul spectively, having suitable operating mechanism .such as that disclosed in 'the'application' men- I "In the accompanying drawing there is shown H .t'ioned above. It will thus be seen that when'the taneously at relatively higlrspeed or at relatively 7 low speed. The specific plural speed transmission connection between themotor and each of the drums is substantially of thesame construetion so that the description of the drive for one" 'drum will sufiice. As illustrated, secured to the 0 motor shaft 5 isa spur pinion 6 driving through an intermediate gear 7 a gear 8 fixed to a horizontal longitudinally extending transmission'shaft 9. Fixed to the shaft 9' inlongitudinally spaced i'elation and "driven thereby arecoaxial worms, :5

one of which is indicated at 10. .This worm 10 mesheswith a worm wheel 11 fixed to a vertical shaft '12 which drives a-worm 13 meshing with a slow speed worm wheel 14 which, as shownin Fig. '1, is journaled on atransverse shaft 15.. Fixed to the shaft 15 is a spur pinion l6 meshing with an internal gear 17 connectible, in an im proved manner as hereinafter described,'to the feed drum. The other coaxial wormlwhich is not shown in the drawing) meshes directly with a fast speed worm wheel l8-likewise journaled' on the transverse shaft 15. These worm wheels 1 t and '18 arealternatively connectible with the shaft 15 by multiple disc clutches 19 and"20 redrum is connected indriving relation with the shaft 15 and one or the other or" the disc clutches 19, 20 is applied, the feed drum may bedriven in winding direction at either ahigh' or a low,

speed. i In the feeding mechanism disclosed in myfcopending application Ser. No. 367,895 it wasfound that: under actual operating conditions even: when the disc clutches of the feeding mechanism were released, there was sufiici'ent adhesion or frictional retarding means for preventing idle. V

rotationof the drums.- Again referring to Fig.- 1, it will be noted'that the drum 3isjournaled on a cylindrical support member 21 which, as is hereinafter described, forms adrive element; and whenthe drum'is disconnected from the memher 21, the drum is entirely relieved of any action of the disc clutches and free to rotate relative to this member. In the present construction, the member 21 is rigidly secured to the internal gear 17 and is journaled on anti-friction bearings supported by a stub shaft 22 projecting laterally from the side of the feed frame and retained in position on the stub shaft by devices indicated at 23. In the improved construction, formed on the drive member 21 are projecting lugs 24, 25 having alined perforations or bores extending perpendicularly to the axial line of the drum. Rotatably ;.has an enlarged rectangular head portion 33;

mounted within the bores formed in these projecting lugs is a cylindrical clutch bar or pin 25 having projecting end portions 27 preferably of semi-circular cross section forming clutch elements 'engageable with notches or slots 28 formed in the outer face of the feed drum hub. As shown, this rotary clutch pin is maintained against axial displacement from the lug bores by a spring pressed ball and groove connection 30 and has secured thereto intermediate its ends an annular collar member or sleeve 31 interposed between the'inner faces of the lugs 24, 25. This sleeve or collar is maintained in position with respect to the clutch pin 26 by a set screw 32 threadedly connected to the pin and extending through an aperture formed in the sleeve. This set screw which forms a' handle for-rotating the clutch pin to bring the semi-circular clutch portions 27 thereof into and out of the slots 28 on the drum. The cylindrical drive member 21 and the drum hub are transversely slotted at 33 to form recesses in which the set screw is disposable in the different positions of the clutch pin, thereby eliminating all protruding parts on the outer face of the drum. When the clutch pin 26 is in the :position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 with the feed drive member 21 and permitting the drumto freely rotate. H 1 It has been found that under certain conditions when the drum clutch was released, entirely disdrical member upon which it is supported as to cause the drum to creep and in case the direction of motor rotation was reversed, the feed cable would tend to unwind from the .rum. To overcome this undesirable creeping action,;there is provided a frictional resistance device indicated generally at 34 and comprising a segmental brake band 35 pivotally connected at 36 to the side of the machine frame at the lower part of the drum, and extending, as shown in. Fig. partially around the periphery of the internal gear 17. The free end of this brake band has secured thereto ears 37 pivotally connected at 33 to an operating lever 39. Pivotally connected at 10 on the side of the machine frame and extending through an aperture in a rotary pin .1 carried by the lever 39 is a bolt 42, and interposed between a nut 43and the pin 41 and encircling the bolt is. a coilspring 44 which is adapted to yield upon a predetermined loading of the brake. The tension of the spring is made sufficient to cause the noted that an improved drumcontrolling mechabrake to overcome the normal creeping tendency of the drum.

The operation of the improved feeding mechanism will be clearly apparent from the description given. Briefly, to summarize, the operation is as follows; When it is desired to effect power rotation of the drum in winding direction at either a higher or a low speed, the operator manipulates the handle 33 of the clutch pin 26, thereby turning the latter into a position to position the semicircular clutch portions 27 thereof within the slots 28 in the drum hub, and upon application of one or theother of the disc clutches 19, 20 the drum may be driven by the motor at either speed desired to effect winding in of its cooperating cable; If it is desired to freely rotate thexdrum relative to its drive mechanism, for instance if it is desired to unwind the cable by hand, the disc clutches 19 and 20 are thrown into their released position and upon rotation of the clutch pin '27, from the position shown in'Fig. 3. to the position shown in Fig. 4, the drum is en: tirely disconnected from the cylindrical drive member 21, thereby entirely relieving the drum from any action of the disc clutches. It is then possible to freely unwind the cable from its drum without the necessity of unwinding the drum against the drag of the clutch discs, which, as mentioned above, is present to some extent even when these clutches are released. If it is desired 105 to hold the rum against rotation when it is disconnected from its drive mechanism, for instance to hold the drum against creeping, this may be accomplished simply by swinging the brake lever 39 to throw the bolt {l2 past the'center of the 11d pivot 33, thereby applying the brake 35 and looking it, due to the relation of the pivots 38, 40 and ll, in its applied position.

As a result of'this invention it will be noted that an improved flexible feeding means is provided wherein the feed drum may be entirely disconnected from its drive mechanism and, when any creeping tendency occurs, may be frictionally held against rotation. It will further be noted that an improved main feed drum clutch is provided whichmay operate by a simple swinging motion of a lever and which is extremely compact, being readily adapted for opplication to a standard feeding mechanism with a minimum of change. It will further be noted that an improved main feed clutch is provided which comprises a relatively small number of parts and which is an extremely rugged design. It will stillfurther be,

nism is provided for a mining machine feeding 13o mechanism wherein all tendency of rotation of the drum, even whendisconnected from its drive mechanism, is eliminated, the drum having associated therewith a frictional retarding device and clutch mechanism whereby the drum ,may be entirely disconnected from its drive mechanism and held against undesired rotation.

While I have in this application specifically described one form which my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form of the same is shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended, claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a mining machine feeding mechanism, the combination of a feed member, driving mechanism therefor including a final driving element on which said feed member i's-rotatably mounted, 150

its

a friction controlling clutch, and transmission gearing in the drive between said final driving element and said clutch and controlled by the latter, means for disconnecting said feed member from said final driving element'entirely to relieve the same from the dragfriction of the driving gearing and clutch, and associated means for preventing free rotation of said feed member when so disconnected, said latter means being auto' matically releasable upon a predetermined load to prevent complete braking of said feed member during normal operation of the feeding mechae nism.

2. In a mining machine feeding mechanism, the

combination of a feed member, driving mechanism therefor including a final driving element on which said feed member is rotatably mounted, a

multiple disc controlling clutch, and transmission gearing in the drive between said final driving element and said clutch and controlled by the latter, means for disconnecting .said feed member from said driving element entirely to relieve the same of any action of the driving gearing and clutch discs, and associated means for preventing nism.

3. In a mining machine feeding mechanism, the combination of a feed member, and driving mechanism therefor including a final rotatable driving element on which said feed member is rotatably' mounted, and means including a rotatable clutch element for connecting said feed member directly to or disconnecting the same, from said driving element, said clutch element beingrotatable with said driving element when in its disconnected position androtatable relative 'to'said driving element to efiect connection and disconnection between the feed member and the driving elemerit.

4. In a'mining V v the combination of a feed member, anddriving mechanism therefor including a final rotatable driving element arranged coaxially'with said'feed member and on which said feed member is rotatably supported, and clutch means operable at will to connect said feed member to or disconnect the same from said drive member and including a rotatable clutch element rotatable with said driving element when said clutch is disconnected and rotatable relative to said driving element to effect con ection and disconnection between the feed member and the driving element.

5. In a miningmachine'feeding mechanism, the combination of a feed member, a drivemember, and clutch meanstherebetween including-a rotatable cylindrical clutch element having a cutaway end portion disposable to effect connection or disconnection of said members, andleased positions.

axis transverse to the feed member axis, and

machine feeding mechanism,

6. In a mining machine feeding mechanism, the combination of a feed member, a drive member, and clutch meanstherebetween for connecting said members'including a rotatable clutch element carried by said drive member, and means for rotating said element relativeto said drive member into its connected and released positions. v

"I. In a mining machine feeding mechanism,

the combination of a feed member, a drive member andclutch means therebetween including a rotary clutch element carried by said drive member and engageable with clutch elements carried by said feed member, and means for rotating said clutch element relative tov said drive member into its connected and released positions.

8. In a mining machine feedingmechanism, the combination of a feed member, a drive member and clutch means therebetween for connecting said members to each other including a rotatable' cylindrical clutch'element carried in a bore formed in one of said members, and means for rotating said element on its axis into its connected and released positions.

y 9. In a mining machine feeding mechanism, the combination of a feed member, a drive member and clutch means therebetween for connecting-said members to each other including a rotatable clutch element carried by one of said members and rotatable relative thereto about an means for rotating said element into its connected and released positions.

10. In a mining machine feeding mechanism, the combination of a feed member, a drive member and clutch means therebetween including a rotary cylindrical clutch element carried in a bore formed in one of said members and engagecarried by said other member to connect said :memberssaid clutch element being rotatable relative to the member which carries it about an the combination of a feed member, a drive member, and clutch means therebetween for connect ing said members including a rotatable clutch element carried by one of said members, and means for rotatingsaid elementrelative to the memberwhlch carries it into its connected and released positions including a'handle for rotating said clutch element, said handle being engageable in its diiferent positions, with abutmerits formed on one of'said members for limiting rotative movement of said clutch element.

MORRIS P. HOLMES." 

